How to Use a CSS Preprocessor to Avoid UI Inconsistencies

Inconsistencies in UI design can be quite bothersome to users. The problem can stem from CSS inconsistencies. By using a CSS Preprocessor like LESS, you can create mixins for components that generate needed styles.

This process will create UI components that have a much stronger tendency to stay consistent as an application is developed.

The video tutorial takes you through using LESS to change settings for elements such as buttons. You can add things such as color, shadows and active states.

Further the video shows you how inconsistencies in design start. (The answer is often a copy and paste error.) By using LESS, multiple elements can be changed using a block of styles.

What you will learn in this tutorial: How to use a CSS preprocessor, such as LESS. You will need web development and coding knowledge to follow this tutorial with ease.

David East is a Developer Programs Engineer for Google, working on Firebase in San Francisco. He's a die-hard JavaScript fan and a budding iOS developer. He also likes waffles. If you like to write code—or eat waffles—follow him on twitter: @_davideast.

Good point David. Unfortunately most users will prefer to copy/paste than learning new syntax. And SASS and LESS are not easy. Even I’m software engineer, it’s unclear to me why and where to put those ampersands (&)… Please look at my easy to use preprocessor http://www.cofoh.com/css-on-diet . I would love some advises about future development.

Well basically you just put an ampersand where you wouldn’t need a space, like a:hover, when you neet a query like .head .logo you don’t add it. Imho sass and less are fantastically easy to learn and widespread

Pre-processors are always a good choice when it comes to debugging of CSS errors or compatibility issues with browsers but do also include the list of CSS pre-processors that are available readily to the public at large.